29: Phil McLemore - From Mormon Chaplain to Christian Yogi, Awakening, Second Comforter Groups

Phil McLemore shares his journey from Catholicism to Mormonism to a deeper spiritual practice through an awakening mediated by meditation and yoga. He discusses his experiences with Catholicism and the doubts that led him to explore other religions. He explains how he found Mormonism and how it initially provided him with a sense of purpose and transformation. Eventually after a severe accident and ineffective priesthood blessings, he turned to meditation for relief from chronic pain.

Through meditation, he had a spiritual awakening and a deeper understanding of the true nature of God. He also discusses the limitations of Mormonism and the lack of emphasis on inner spirituality within the church. The conversation explores the idea that there is an infinite, formless, and changeless reality that constitutes the essence of our being. The purpose of life is to discover and awaken to this reality, which requires direct experience and knowledge beyond the mind. The integration of this formless reality into the world of form is seen as essential for the full realization of the purpose of life.

The conversation explores the balance between personal exploration and guidance in spiritual journeys, the potential benefits and drawbacks of psychedelics, and the integration of mystical experiences into daily life. Gabe and Phil discuss the importance of character development and Christ-like living as the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening. They also touch on the misinterpretation of mystical experiences and the need for discerning integration. The conversation concludes with a focus on the integration of the kingdom of God within oneself and among others.

Phil's Written Works:

Becoming the Beloved

Hindering the Saints - Taking Away the Key of Knowledge

The Yoga of Christ

Phil's Facebook Group:

Inner Path

Here for the esoteric origins of Mormonism? Check out

Episode 2 or read it in on the Substack for the integrative narrative of Mormon origins:

Here for the science and spirituality? Check out:

Interview with Donald Hoffman

Interview with Bernardo Kastrup

Discussion with Bernardo Kastrup on Entropy

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:42 Phil's Background in Catholicism

06:04 Religion's Burden on Children

07:44 Phil's Introduction to Buddhism

08:58 Phil's Life in Mormonism as a CES Employee and Military Chaplain

11:39 Phil's Work in Apologetics

15:52 Phil's Injury, Chronic Pain, and Ineffective Priesthood Blessings

17:55 Being Rescued from Chronic Pain by Meditation and Yoga

21:28 Spiritual Experiences in Mormonism versus Mystical Experiences in Meditation

23:48 Mormonism's Conceptualization of God versus Direct Experience

25:30 Did Joseph Smith have Mystical Experiences?

31:44 Learning with Deepak Chopra and Teaching Mormons the Meditative Path

36:16 Transition from Orthodox Mormonism to Christian Mysticism

39:19 Why is Meditation not Taught in Mormonism?

44:34 Have the Modern Day Apostles and Prophets had Mystical Experiences?

47:00 What is Awakening?

55:30 What do Mystical Experiences Feel Like?

01:03:20 Rethinking Atonement and Resurrection

01:11:29 Gradual versus Sudden Spiritual Awakenings

01:13:42 How Mystical Experiences Feel Somatically

01:18:24 Suffering as a Catalyst for Awakening

01:19:18 Morality, Substances, Polyamory and Spiritual Paths

01:31:47 Our Innate Divine Ability to Find the Right Path

01:33:18 Psychedelics

01:44:54 Intention, Interpretation of Experience, and Integration

01:50:57 Joseph Smith's Integration of his Spiritual Experiences

01:52:25 Second Comforter and End Times Groups, and the Dangers of Seeking Mystical Experiences

02:00:30 Phil's Summary and Closing Advice, The Kingdom of God, Christ